Deep Sea Diving On The World’s First Underwater Wheelchair (VIDEO)

by Libby Zay on

Although both scuba gear and wheelchairs extend people’s range of activity, Sue Austin says one accoutrement is associated with excitement and adventure, while the other garners a completely different response. In order to challenge misconceptions about disability, Austin — who has been in a wheelchair for the past 16 years — set out to create live, underwater performances that would promote positive, empowering images of people in wheelchairs. Watch the mesmerizing video above and it could challenge your perception of disabilities, both by land and sea.

[via Virgin]

Man Travels U.S. Handing Out $500 Tips

by Libby Zay on


In his will, Aaron Collins had a simple wish: to have his family leave “an awesome tip” for an unsuspecting server. “I’m not talking about 25%. I mean $500 for a [expletive deleted] pizza,” Collins wrote, according to his brother, Seth. Shortly after Aaron died, his family surprised a server in Lexington with just that. Seth posted a recording of the server’s reaction (above) to YouTube, and the heartwarming video quickly went viral.

People were so touched by Aaron’s request that the family soon found themselves with nearly $60,000 in donations. Seth knew he had to spread his brother’s wish further, and decided to travel to all 50 states so people across the nation could feel the effects of these random acts of kindness. Watch the first server to get a $500 tip above (the excitement starts at the minute mark), or visit Aaron’s Last Wish to see more lucky servers at the receiving end of this family’s generosity. It might just be the most heartwarming road trip ever imagined.

[via Gawker]

Country Star’s Boyhood Home Could Complete Southern Music Tourism Trifecta

by Libby Zay on

Johnny Cash’s boyhood home of Dyess, Arkansas is undergoing a $3.5 million makeover in an effort to lure tourists to the area. That means tourists can soon (ahem) walk the line(s) between Nashville, Memphis and Dyess on what could be the ultimate southern music trifecta. Okay, nobody will probably actually walk the distance between these three places, but it is kind of cool that resources will be in place so people can easily visit the homes of Elvis Presley, Taylor Swift and Johnny Cash — plus lots of other musicians, too — on their very own homes of the stars tour through the south.

See Disneyland During Its Opening Year (VIDEO)

by Libby Zay on


The Disney History Institute has pulled together a bunch of home movie scraps to compile a video of Disneyland in 1955, the park’s opening year. Besides an overview of what Disneyland was like to an average guest back in the day, the film also shows some rarely seen elements, like the lingerie shop on Main Street (it only lasted six months at the park) and a a short-lived ride called Canal Boats of the World (so unpopular there was only one clip of it in operation). There’s also a glimpse of workers putting the finishing touches on the Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship, which was only half painted to create a TV promo before the park opened. Viewers might also notice the absence of costumed characters, which didn’t come around until much later. Instead, entertainment through the 1950s included acts like an organ grinder and his monkey, which can be spotted in the film.

[via BoingBoing]

Talking Train Windows (Silently) Play Ads

by Libby Zay on

No, tired train traveler, you’re not hearing voices. That’s just an audio advertisement that can only be heard when resting against a train window. Seriously, is there any way to escape anymore? A new German technology can deliver ads to weary travelers through vibrations. Silent to everyone else on the train, the ads seem to come from directly inside the brain. Let’s just hope companies use the technology for good and not evil, and instead send us soothing nature sounds. Get a full idea of the new concept in the promo video above — and enjoy being able to sleep during transit while you still can.

[via tnooz.com]